In the busyness of life, it is easy at times to get caught in the current of urgency that leads to anxiety. Those moments we convince ourselves that we must stop and get milk because the kids love eating cereal in the morning and you don’t want to disappoint them.
Once we act upon the small thoughts of urgency it opens this floodgate of more panic-driven thinking that takes us down a slope filled with mud and clay we have to fight hard to get out of.
Urgency makes us place things that can wait on a priority list and bumps the meaningful matters to the bottom.
An example of meaningful could be keeping your doctor’s appointment instead of rescheduling because you decided to go across town to get milk for the children and you still have a half-gallon in the fridge.
Whenever we yield to those urgent messages going off in your head like text messages that send a notification to your brain to act swiftly you make decisions that are not always necessary for the now.
Let me clear something up quickly before you misunderstand me, some things are urgent and require immediate action, like a flat tire, meeting a deadline, or water leaking in your basement. But everything is not a 911 and really can wait if you place it in the proper file.
Speaking of files I want to share some simple ways to organize those persistent thoughts flooding your inbox that can wait.
Before you make a decision, calm yourself down by closing your eyes, and breathing in deep and release so your heart rate is calm and oxygen is getting to your brain.
5 files to organize urgent thoughts:
- Urgent: Must be done now due to danger, great loss, long term negative effects, life-altering, just can not wait.
- Mandatory: A requirement, not optional, you must do, a command, needed, needs your attention now.
- Delay: Can wait, is optional, hold up, may hinder what you are doing now, and holdup to make the best decision.
- Distraction: Thoughts that interrupt your flow, intrusion, lack of interest or a pleasant break from what is taking place.
- Unrealistic: Thoughts that are impractical, unfeasible, and unworkable
Just Appetizers 